For the first time since its December 2008 opening, the Bi-Annual Graduate Research Conference is open to all graduate students at IU South Bend.
Previously, the conference was an exit project for the School of Education’s graduate program. What began as a way for students pursuing their Masters degrees in Education to end the graduate program is now becoming a way for all IUSB graduate students to present their research to peers, professors and faculty, and interested community members.
“The conference has been such a success I decided to open it to the entire university and really encourage that cross-discipline collaboration of ideas,” said Michelle Bakerson, assistant professor of educational research and founder of the conference. “My ultimate goal is to develop this conference involving multiple institutions and not just IUSB.”
Bakerson also hopes to one day have a Graduate Research Journal published by IUSB students.
Any graduate research from any discipline can be submitted. Most presentations in the past three conferences have been posters or roundtable discussions, but visual aids such as PowerPoint and handouts are welcome also. The visual aids are not required, but are encouraged. Presentations are to be no longer than 15 minutes. There will be a question and answer session after each presentation.
Research does not have to be from a certain semester. Recent graduates of a graduate studies program at IUSB are also encouraged to submit their research, providing it was done while a graduate student.
“It is a venue for peer review and interdisciplinary discussion,” said Bakerson.
Students interested in submitting research must e-mail their research to Bakerson at mabakerso@iusb.edu. She will send forms that include a summary or abstract of their research.
The Conference will be April 27at 7 p.m. in the Student Activities Center rooms 221, 223, and 225. It is free, open to the public, and includes refreshments. Students who have any questions are asked to contact Bakerson by email or by telephone at (574)520-4391.
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